Delphi Complete Works of Demosthenes

by Demosthenes

  [87] So these whose names you have heard, as well as many others, are the men whom you will injure if you do not repeal the law. Just reflect and ponder in your own minds, if any of these men now passed away could somehow come to know of the present proceedings, what just ground they would have for indignation! For if of the deeds that each wrought for your advantage there is to be a judgement based on words, if actions nobly performed by them, unless nobly avowed by us in speech, have been wrought in vain for all their toil, are they not suffering a terrible wrong?

  [88] ἵνα τοίνυν εἰδῆτ᾽, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὅτι ὡς ἀληθῶς ἐπὶ πᾶσι δικαίοις ποιούμεθα τοὺς λόγους πάντας οὓς λέγομεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ οὐδὲν ἔσθ᾽ ὅ τι τοῦ παρακρούσασθαι καὶ φενακίσαι λέγεται παρ᾽ ἡμῶν ἕνεκα, ἀναγνώσεται τὸν νόμον ὑμῖν ὃν παρεισφέρομεν γράψαντες ἀντὶ τοῦδε, ὃν οὐκ ἐπιτήδειον εἶναί φαμεν. γνώσεσθε γὰρ ἐκ τούτου πρόνοιάν τιν᾽ ἔχοντας ἡμᾶς καὶ ὅπως ὑμεῖς μηδὲν αἰσχρὸν ποιῆσαι δόξετε, καὶ ὅπως, εἴ τινά τις καταμέμφεται τῶν εὑρημένων τὰς δωρειάς, ἂν δίκαιον ᾖ, κρίνας παρ᾽ ὑμῖν ἀφαιρήσεται, καὶ ὅπως, οὓς οὐδεὶς ἂν ἀντείποι μὴ οὐ δεῖν ἔχειν, ἕξουσιν τὰ δοθέντα.

  [88] Now, to satisfy you, Athenians, that every argument that we submit to you is based on perfectly just grounds, and that not a single argument is intended to mislead and deceive you, the clerk shall read the law drafted and proposed by us to take the place of the present one, which we contend is mischievous. For our law will show you that we take some care to ensure that you shall be saved from the appearance of a dishonorable act; that if anyone objects to one of the recipients, he can deprive him of his gift, if the objection is sound, after trial in your courts; and also that those whose claim to the gifts none could dispute shall keep them.

  [89] καὶ τούτων πάντων οὐδὲν ἔσθ᾽ ἡμέτερον οὐδὲ καινὸν εὕρημα, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ παλαιός, ὃν οὗτος παρέβη, νόμος οὕτω κελεύει νομοθετεῖν, γράφεσθαι μέν, ἄν τίς τινα τῶν ὑπαρχόντων νόμων μὴ καλῶς ἔχειν ἡγῆται, παρεισφέρειν δ᾽ αὐτὸν ἄλλον, ὃν ἂν τιθῇ λύων ἐκεῖνον, ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἀκούσαντες ἑλέσθαι τὸν κρείττω.

  [89] And in all this there is nothing new, no innovation of our own; but the old law, transgressed by Leptines, lays down this procedure in legislation, that if a man disapproves of an existing law, he shall bring an indictment against it, but shall himself introduce an alternative, such as he proposes to enact after repeal of the other, and that you, after hearing arguments, shall choose the better law.

  [90] οὐ γὰρ ᾤετο δεῖν ὁ Σόλων, ὁ τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον προστάξας νομοθετεῖν, τοὺς μὲν θεσμοθέτας τοὺς ἐπὶ τοὺς νόμους κληρουμένους δὶς δοκιμασθέντας ἄρχειν, ἔν τε τῇ βουλῇ καὶ παρ᾽ ὑμῖν ἐν τῷ δικαστηρίῳ, τοὺς δὲ νόμους αὐτούς, καθ᾽ οὓς καὶ τούτοις ἄρχειν καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἄλλοις πολιτεύεσθαι προσήκει, ἐπὶ καιροῦ τεθέντας, ὅπως ἔτυχον, μὴ δοκιμασθέντας κυρίους εἶναι.

  [90] For Solon, who imposed this method, did not think it right that while the junior archons, who are appointed by lot to administer the laws, undergo two scrutinies before entering on office, one in the Council and a second in the law-courts before you, the laws themselves, which regulate their official acts and all other civic duties, should be passed at haphazard to meet some emergency, and should be at once valid without passing a scrutiny.

  [91] καὶ γάρ τοι τότε μέν, τέως τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον ἐνομοθέτουν, τοῖς μὲν ὑπάρχουσι νόμοις ἐχρῶντο, καινοὺς δ᾽ οὐκ ἐτίθεσαν: ἐπειδὴ δὲ τῶν πολιτευομένων τινὲς δυνηθέντες, ὡς ἐγὼ πυνθάνομαι, κατεσκεύασαν αὑτοῖς ἐξεῖναι νομοθετεῖν, ὅταν τις βούληται καὶ ὃν ἂν τύχῃ τρόπον, τοσοῦτοι μὲν οἱ ἐναντίοι σφίσιν αὑτοῖς εἰσὶ νόμοι, ὥστε χειροτονεῖθ᾽ ὑμεῖς τοὺς διαλέξοντας τοὺς ἐναντίους ἐπὶ πάμπολυν ἤδη χρόνον,

  [91] For in those days, indeed, while they legislated in that way, they kept to the existing laws and were not always proposing new ones; but ever since certain statesmen rose to power and, as I am informed, contrived to get into their own hands the right to initiate legislation at any time and in any way they wished, there are so many contradictory statutes that for a long time you have had to appoint a commission to sort out the contradictory ones;

  [92] καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ οὐδὲν μᾶλλον δύναται πέρας ἔχειν: ψηφισμάτων δ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὁτιοῦν διαφέρουσιν οἱ νόμοι, ἀλλὰ νεώτεροι οἱ νόμοι, καθ᾽ οὓς τὰ ψηφίσματα δεῖ γράφεσθαι, τῶν ψηφισμάτων αὐτῶν ὑμῖν εἰσίν. ἵν᾽ οὖν μὴ λόγον λέγω μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν νόμον αὐτὸν ὅν φημι δείξω, λαβέ μοι τὸν νόμον καθ᾽ ὃν ἦσαν οἱ πρότερον νομοθέται. λέγε.”Νόμος”

  [92] yet in spite of this the business never comes to an end. Our laws are no better than so many decrees; nay, you will find that the laws which have to be observed in drafting the decrees are later than the decrees themselves. Not to be content, then, with a bare assertion, but to show you the actual law to which I refer, please take and read the law constituting the original legislative commission. “ Law”

  [93] συνίεθ᾽ ὃν τρόπον, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὁ Σόλων τοὺς νόμους ὡς καλῶς κελεύει τιθέναι, πρῶτον μὲν παρ᾽ ὑμῖν, ἐν τοῖς ὀμωμοκόσιν, παρ᾽ οἷσπερ καὶ τἄλλα κυροῦται, ἔπειτα λύοντα τοὺς ἐναντίους, ἵν᾽ εἷς ᾖ περὶ τῶν ὄντων ἑκάστου νόμος, καὶ μὴ τοὺς ἰδιώτας αὐτὸ τοῦτο ταράττῃ καὶ ποιῇ τῶν ἅπαντας εἰδότων τοὺς νόμους ἔλαττον ἔχειν, ἀλλὰ πᾶσιν ᾖ ταὔτ᾽ ἀναγνῶναι καὶ μαθεῖν ἁπλᾶ καὶ σαφῆ τὰ δίκαια.

  [93] You understand, Athenians, the beauty of Solon’s directions for legislating. The first stage is in your courts, before men under oath, where all other ratifications are made; the next is the repeal of the contradictory laws, so that there may be only one law dealing with each subject, and that the plain citizen may not be puzzled by such contradictions and be at a disadvantage compared with those who are acquainted with the whole body of law, but that all may have the same ordinances before them, simple and clear to read and understand.

  [94] καὶ πρὸ τούτων γ᾽ ἐπέταξεν ἐκθεῖναι πρόσθε τῶν ἐπωνύμων καὶ τῷ γραμματεῖ παραδοῦναι, τοῦτον δ᾽ ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις ἀναγιγνώσκειν, ἵν᾽ ἕκαστος ὑμῶν ἀκούσας πολλάκις καὶ κατὰ σχολὴν σκεψάμενος, ἃν ᾖ καὶ δίκαια καὶ συμφέροντα, ταῦτα νομοθετῇ. τούτων τοίνυν τοσούτων ὄντων δικαίων τὸ πλῆθος, οὑτοσὶ μὲν οὐδ᾽ ὁτιοῦν ἐποίησε Λεπτίνης: οὐδ�
�� γὰρ ἂν ὑμεῖς ποτ᾽ ἐπείσθητε, ὡς ἐγὼ νομίζω, θέσθαι τὸν νόμον: ἡμεῖς δ᾽, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, πάντα, καὶ παρεισφέρομεν πολλῷ καὶ κρείττω καὶ δικαιότερον τοῦ τούτου νόμον.

  [94] Moreover, before these proceedings, Solon ordered that the laws should be exposed before the statues of the eponymous heroes and handed in to the town-clerk to recite them at the meetings of the Assembly, so that each of you may hear them more than once and digest them at leisure, and if they are just and expedient, may add them to the statute-book. Now, numerous as those enactments are, Leptines yonder has observed not one of them, for, if he had, I do not think that you would ever have consented to pass his law. We on the other hand, Athenians, have observed them all, and we are submitting a much better and more equitable law than his. You will realize that when you hear it.

  [95] γνώσεσθε δ᾽ ἀκούοντες. λαβὲ καὶ λέγε πρῶτον μὲν ἃ τοῦ τούτου νόμου γεγράμμεθα, εἶθ᾽ ἅ φαμεν δεῖν ἀντὶ τούτων τεθῆναι. λέγε.”Νόμος”

  ταῦτα μέν ἐσθ᾽ ἃ τοῦ τούτου νόμου διώκομεν ὡς οὐκ ἐπιτήδεια. τὰ δ᾽ ἑξῆς λέγε, ἃ τούτων εἶναι βελτίω φαμέν. προσέχετ᾽, ἄνδρες δικασταί, τούτοις ἀναγιγνωσκομένοις τὸν νοῦν. λέγε.”Νόμος”

  [95] Take and read first of all the clauses of his law which we have indicted, and next the clauses we propose to substitute for them. Read.” Law “

  These are the parts of the law of Leptines which we arraign as unsatisfactory. Next in order read our proposed amendments. Pray attend, gentlemen of the jury, to these as they are recited. Read.” Law”

  [96] ἐπίσχες. τοῦτο μέν ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς οὖσι νόμοις κυρίοις ὑπάρχον καλόν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ σαφές, ‘τὰς δωρειὰς ὅσας ὁ δῆμος ἔδωκε κυρίας εἶναι:’ δίκαιον, ὦ γῆ καὶ θεοί. χρῆν τοίνυν Λεπτίνην μὴ πρότερον τιθέναι τὸν ἑαυτοῦ νόμον πρὶν τοῦτον ἔλυσε γραψάμενος. νῦν δὲ μαρτυρίαν καθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ καταλείπων ὅτι παρανομεῖ τουτονὶ τὸν νόμον, ὅμως ἐνομοθέτει, καὶ ταῦθ᾽ ἑτέρου κελεύοντος νόμου καὶ κατ᾽ αὐτὸ τοῦτ᾽ ἔνοχον εἶναι τῇ γραφῇ, ἐὰν ἐναντίος ᾖ τοῖς πρότερον κειμένοις νόμοις. λαβὲ δ᾽ αὐτὸν τὸν νόμον.”Νόμος”

  [96] Stop there. The laws now in force contain this provision — a capital one, men of Athens, and unambiguous — that “all rewards granted by the people shall be valid.” Equitable too, by all the powers! So Leptines should not have proposed his own law until he had indicted and repealed this. As it is, neglecting proof of his own violation of the law, he nevertheless proceeded to legislate, in face of the fact that another law proclaims his law indictable for this very offence, namely, for contradicting previous legislation. Here is the very law in question.” Law”

  [97] οὔκουν ἐναντίον, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τῷ ‘κυρίας εἶναι τὰς δωρειάς, ὅσας ὁ δῆμος ἔδωκε,’ τὸ ‘μηδέν᾽ εἶναι ἀτελῆ’ τούτων οἷς ὁ δῆμος ἔδωκεν; σαφῶς γ᾽ οὑτωσί. ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐν ᾧ νῦν ὅδ᾽ ἀντεισφέρει νόμῳ, ἀλλ᾽ ἅ τ᾽ ἐδώκατε, κύρια, καὶ πρόφασις δικαία κατὰ τῶν ἢ παρακρουσαμένων ἢ μετὰ ταῦτ᾽ ἀδικούντων ἢ ὅλως ἀναξίων, δι᾽ ἣν ὃν ἂν ὑμῖν δοκῇ κωλύσετ᾽ ἔχειν τὴν δωρειάν. λέγε τὸν νόμον.”Νόμος”

  [97] Men of Athens, is not the provision that “all rewards granted by the people shall be valid” contradicted by the clause that “no one shall be immune,” no one, that is, of those to whom the people has granted immunity? That is plain enough, at any rate. But it is not so in the alternative law which my friend here proposes, and which confirms what you have granted, and provides a fair ground of action against those who have imposed upon you, or have subsequently injured you, or are generally undeserving; so that you will thus prevent anyone you please from retaining his grant. Read the law.” Law”

  [98] ἀκούετ᾽, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ καταμανθάνετε, ὅτι ἐνταῦθ᾽ ἔνι καὶ τοὺς ἀξίους ἔχειν τὰ δοθέντα καὶ τοὺς μὴ τοιούτους κριθέντας, ἐὰν ἀδίκως τι λάβωσιν, ἀφαιρεθῆναι, καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν ἐφ᾽ ὑμῖν εἶναι πάνθ᾽, ὥσπερ ἐστὶ δίκαιον, καὶ δοῦναι καὶ μή. ὡς μὲν τοίνυν οὐχὶ καλῶς οὗτος ἔχει καὶ δικαίως ὁ νόμος, οὔτ᾽ ἐρεῖν οἴομαι Λεπτίνην οὔτ᾽, ἐὰν λέγῃ, δεῖξαι δυνήσεσθαι: ἃ δὲ πρὸς τοῖς θεσμοθέταις ἔλεγεν, ταῦτ᾽ ἴσως λέγων παράγειν ὑμᾶς ζητήσει. ἔφη γὰρ ἐξαπάτης εἵνεκα παραγεγράφθαι τοῦτον τὸν νόμον, ἐὰν δ᾽ ὃν αὐτὸς ἔθηκεν λυθῇ, τοῦτον οὐ τεθήσεσθαι.

  [98] You hear the law, Athenians, and you understand that it enables the deserving to retain their rewards, and those who are judged otherwise to be deprived of any privilege they have unjustly secured; for the future everything is left in your hands, as is right, to grant or to withhold. Now I do not think that Leptines will deny that this law is sound and just, or, if he does, that he will be able to prove it. But perhaps he will try to lead you astray by repeating what he said before the junior archons. For he alleged that the publication of this amended law was a mere trick, and that should his own law be repealed, this one would never be passed.

  [99] ἐγὼ δ᾽, ὅτι μὲν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ ψήφῳ τοῦ τούτου νόμου λυθέντος τὸν παρεισενεχθέντα κύριον εἶναι σαφῶς ὁ παλαιὸς κελεύει νόμος, καθ᾽ ὃν οἱ θεσμοθέται τοῦτον ὑμῖν παρέγραψαν, ἐάσω, ἵνα μὴ περὶ τούτου τις ἀντιλέγῃ μοι, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἐκεῖν᾽ εἶμι. ὅταν ταῦτα λέγῃ δήπου, ὁμολογεῖ μὲν εἶναι βελτίω καὶ δικαιότερον τόνδε τὸν νόμον οὗ τέθεικεν αὐτός, ὑπὲρ δὲ τοῦ πῶς τεθήσεται ποιεῖται τὸν λόγον.

  [99] Now, to avoid dispute, I will not press the point that the old law of Solon, in accordance with which the junior archons have notified these amendments to you, clearly enjoins that if the law of Leptines is repealed by your vote, the alternative law shall be valid. I will pass to another point. Leptines, in saying this, obviously admits that our law is better and fairer than his own, but bases his argument on the way in which it is to be passed.

  [100] πρῶτον μὲν τοίνυν εἰσὶν αὐτῷ κατὰ τοῦ παρεισφέροντος πολλοὶ τρόποι, δι᾽ ὧν, ἂν βούληται, θεῖναι τὸν νόμον αὐτὸν ἀναγκάσει. ἔπειτ᾽ ἐγγυώμεθ᾽ ἡμεῖς, ἐγώ, Φορμίων, ἄλλον εἴ τινα βούλεται, θήσειν τὸν νόμον. ἔστι δὲ δήπου νόμος ὑμῖν, ἐάν τις ὑποσχόμενός τι τὸν δῆμον ἢ τὴν βουλὴν ἢ δικαστήριον ἐξαπατήσῃ, τὰ ἔσχατα πάσχειν. ἐγγυώμεθα, ὑπισχνούμεθα: οἱ θεσμοθέται ταῦτα γραφόντων, ἐπὶ τούτοις τὸ πρᾶγμα γιγνέσθω.

  [100] Now, in the first place, there are many ways open to him
, if he wishes, of compelling the amender to introduce his own law. In the next place, Phormio and myself and anyone else he likes to name are prepared to guarantee that we will introduce it. You know there is a law making death the penalty for anyone who breaks his promise to the Assembly or one of the Councils or law-courts. You have our guarantee, our promise. Let the archons record it, and let the matter rest in their hands.

  [101] μήθ᾽ ὑμεῖς ποιήσητε μηδὲν ἀνάξιον ὑμῶν αὐτῶν, μήτε, εἴ τις φαῦλός ἐστι τῶν εὑρημένων τὴν δωρειάν, ἐχέτω, ἀλλ᾽ ἰδίᾳ κατὰ τόνδε κριθήτω τὸν νόμον. εἰ δὲ ταῦτα λόγους καὶ φλυαρίας εἶναι φήσει, ἐκεῖνό γ᾽ οὐ λόγος: αὐτὸς θέτω, καὶ μὴ λεγέτω τοῦθ᾽, ὡς οὐ θήσομεν ἡμεῖς. κάλλιον δὲ δήπου τὸν ὑφ᾽ ὑμῶν κριθέντα καλῶς ἔχειν νόμον εἰσφέρειν ἢ ὃν νῦν ἀφ᾽ αὑτοῦ τίθησιν.